Page 23 of Sleeper

She nodded.

Although I planned to stay out of Sleeper’s house longer than a few minutes, my anxiety was already sneaking up on me. The barista hadn’t done anything strange for me to suspect her of any foul play, but I still wasn’t comfortable. I lifted the paper coffee cup to my mouth but didn’t take a sip. I hated this was the person I had become, but I hoped it was temporary. Maybe I would look into counseling, something I should have done years ago, but thought I was able to work my problems out on my own. I’d done a piss poor job of that so far. The time had come to try a different approach.

“Are you not staying?” she asked, putting the coffee carafe onto the counter beside the register.

“I don’t think so. Not this time. Thanks again for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome.”

20

VERA

The heat from the sun was extra hot today or maybe it only felt like it was, seeing as I hadn’t really spent much time outdoors recently. Either way, I welcomed the light and the sweat beads that formed above my upper lip. My eyes closed and I smiled, thankful I had the ability to still enjoy things.

At the time, I hated the nurse at the hospital for telling me I needed to be strong enough for my friend and me now, but she was right. I was alive and planned to live enough life for the both of us. I made up my mind and planned to dedicate my debut novel to Kenzi. After I wrote it, of course.

“Vera Wang,” the seedy voice I wished to never hear again grunted behind me. Fuck! I turned to face him, expecting him to be alone. To his left was a man in a black suit and to his right, a woman in similar attire. I could probably outrun one person, maybe two, but not three.

“You should have stayed for the coffee, Ms. Potasnik,” the woman warned. How the fuck did she know my name? There wasn’t a damn thing about her I recognized.

“I was actually going back inside to finish it,” I quickly said, as I turned around and took a step in the other direction.

“Coffee shop is that way.” The man pointed out in a bored tone. I wasn’t fooling anyone, but I had limited options.

“What do you want?” I asked, standing my ground since running wasn’t something I could do.

“We want all the information you have on the Royal Bastards Motorcycle Club.”

“Don’t know them.” I shrugged, sipping my coffee, wishing I had drank it before I faced this shit. A small laugh piped through my lips as the idea formed. My arm bent and I flung the brown liquid in their faces. While they were wiping it out of their eyes, I took off.

“She’s getting away. Get her,” the woman ordered.

A set of thick arms wrapped around me, and the man hauled me over his shoulders. My fists pounded against his back. “Put me the fuck down!” I screamed, kneeing him in the chest.

“I am,” he said with a grunt.

“You are?” This was a trick, it had to be.

“He. Is.” Sleeper growled possessively. The man set me down and I twisted in the direction where I heard Sleeper’s voice come from. Sleeper and countless of his brothers had machine guns drawn and were ready to shoot. I ran behind them as quickly as my feet would carry me. Thankfully, I trusted Sleeper and hadn’t run for the hills when I left his house. If I had, I would without question be dead.

Sleeper smiled at me, and a flood of emotions nearly knocked me off my feet. Heat rushed into my cheeks, and I stood, needing a moment to get my bearings.

21

SLEEPER

“He. Is,” tore out my mouth in a ruthless growl.

The dirty Fed released her, and she turned to face me. A genuine smile spread across my face. She was safe.

Vera’s amber brown eyes landed on mine and the apples of her cheeks turned the sexy red color that I was growing fond of seeing on a regular basis.

A bitter laugh popped out of Willie’s lips as he said, “I know that look, Son.”

“You don’t know shit!”

“Might be true about most things, but I can tell you’re sweet on Vera Wang.” I watched his mouth enunciate each syllable and I told myself not to lose my shit. If I killed him in front of the Feds, they would throw me in solitary for sure.

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